Women in Love star Glenda Jackson dead at 87: Former Labour MP passes away
Two-time Oscar-winning actress and former Labor MP Glenda Jackson has died aged 87 “after a short illness,” her agent said today.
The Women in Love star, who gave up her acting career in 1992 to serve more than 20 years in Parliament, died after a ‘brief illness’ at her home in Blackheath, south-east London.
After stepping down as an MP in 2015, she made a triumphant return to TV screens in the 2019 production Elizabeth Is Missing, portraying an elderly woman suffering from early stage dementia.
The critically acclaimed Bafta-winning performance showed why she had been showered with awards throughout her glittering career.
She won the first of two Academy Awards for the 1970 romantic drama Women in Love, in which she co-starred with Oliver Reed and Alan Bates. The second came after her star change in the 1973 British romantic comedy A Touch of Class.
She also played the famous Egyptian Queen Cleopatra in 1971 for an episode of The Morecambe & Wise Show with comedy duo Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise.
Jackson had just finished filming The Great Escaper alongside fellow double Oscar winner Sir Michael Caine, with whom she had last acted 48 years ago in The Romantic Englishwoman.
Two-time Oscar-winning actress and former Labor MP Glenda Jackson has died aged 87 “after a brief illness” at her home in Blackheath, south-east London, her agent said today. Above: Jackson in the 2019 production Elizabeth is Missing
Jackson had just finished filming The Great Escaper alongside fellow double Oscar winner Sir Michael Caine, with whom she had last acted 48 years ago in The Romantic Englishwoman
Her agent Lionel Larner said: “Glenda Jackson, two-time Academy Award-winning actress and politician, passed away peacefully this morning at her home in Blackheath, London, after a short illness with her family by her side.
“She recently finished filming The Great Escaper, in which she co-starred with Michael Caine.”
Commenting on the news of her death, a spokesman for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “This is extremely sad news, his thoughts will be with her friends and family at this time.”
Labor MP Tulip Siddiq, who took over Jackson’s seat in Hampstead and Kilburn after she stepped down, said: ‘Devastated to hear that my predecessor Glenda Jackson has passed away.
“A formidable politician, a great actress and a very supportive mentor to me. Hampstead and Kilburn will miss you, Glenda.’
Despite her successful career, which also included two Emmy Awards and a Tony, Jackson previously said she was never interested in the social and glamorous aspects of the industry. Above: The star in 2018
Jackson served as Member of Parliament for Hampstead from 1992 to 2015, when she left Parliament to restart her acting career. Above: The actress with then British Prime Minister Gordon Brown during the 2010 general election campaign
Jackson said she only started acting after failing her high school diploma, leaving her with no choice but to start working at age 16.
Jackson plays Queen Elizabeth I in the 1971 film Mary, Queen of Scots
She won the first of two Academy Awards for the 1970 romantic drama Women in Love, in which she co-starred with Oliver Reed and Alan Bates. Above: Jackson and Reid in the movie
Jackson made more than one appearance on The Morecambe and Wise Show. Above: With Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise on the 1972 Christmas show
Despite her successful career, which also included two Emmy Awards and a Tony, Jackson previously said she was never interested in the social and glamorous aspects of the industry.
The double Oscar winner retired from acting for politics more than a quarter of a century ago and served as a Labor MP for 23 years.
In 1992 she was elected Labor MP for Hampstead and Highgate and was Deputy Minister for Transport from 1997 to 1999 in the government of Sir Tony Blair.
The Great Escaper tells the story of a World War II veteran who escaped from his care home in Hove, East Sussex, to attend a commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France.
Jackson said she only started acting after failing her high school diploma, leaving her with no choice but to start working at age 16.
In a 1971 episode of The Morecambee & Wise show, Jackson played Egypt’s Queen Cleopatra
Jackson with Eric Morecambe (right) and Ernie Wise during the making of their television program ‘The Morecambe And Wise Show’ in December 1971
Jackson co-starred with co-star Oliver Reed in the 1969 romantic drama Women in Love
Labor MP Tulip Siddiq, who took over Jackson’s seat in Hampstead and Kilburn after she stepped down, said she was ‘devastated’ when she learned of the star’s death
Labor MP Chris Bryant said: ‘Really saddened to hear that Glenda Jackson has passed away. She was a great actor and I loved campaigning for her in Hampstead and Highgate. My thoughts are with her son Dan’
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Bonnie Greer said it was a ‘privilege to be old enough to see'[n] she was the total revolution in acting
After joining a friend in the YMCA amateur drama society while working at her local Boots store, she went on to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada).
Speaking to the Radio Times about working with Morecambe and Wise, whose popular show was a mix of skits and stand-up comedy, Jackson said: ‘Oh, I loved working with them.
“I found it extremely difficult to contain my laughter when we did Cleopatra.”
Jackson also recalled her experience working with the late theater director Peter Brook, with whom she collaborated on a 1967 production of Marat/Sade and whom she described as a “genius.”
Jackson also once said that she would “probably” turn down a ladyship if offered one, because “what does it even mean?”